Former London bus driver detained in Dubai over alleged sex-ring, BBC investigation says

A former London bus driver, Charles 'Abbey' Mwesigwa, has been detained in Dubai amid allegations that he ran a sex ring in which vulnerable women were coerced into sexual acts for wealthy clients. He was filmed by an undercover reporter saying women under his control would do 'pretty much everything' clients asked. While authorities in the United Arab Emirates have not publicly announced any charges, a Dubai law firm told the BBC that Mwesigwa was in custody at the Central Prison Centre in Al Awir, and Interpol Uganda has issued a red notice seeking his detention pending extradition.

The BBC Eye and World of Secrets investigation examined how vulnerable Ugandan workers are drawn to the Gulf with promises of stable employment, only to be coerced into coercive sex work. Troy, a former employee who worked for Mwesigwa, said women were told on arrival that they owed money for flights, visas and living costs, and that the only way to repay the debt was through prostitution. He said the women were forced into sexual acts he had 'never seen in his life', catering to 'rich men [who] look for girls that can fulfil their fantasies'. Abbey was filmed acknowledging that the women under his influence would cater to clients' demands.

Monic Karungi, a 23-year-old Ugandan woman, died in May 2022, just four months after arriving in the UAE, and was later wrongly linked to the #DubaiPortaPotty hashtag. A relative said she owed Abbey more than $27,000 after only weeks in Dubai. The BBC learned that two women linked to Abbey also died after falling from buildings in Dubai; authorities concluded the deaths were suicides, according to the families.

Abbey has denied the allegations. In interviews with the BBC, he said, 'I’m just a party person who invites big spenders on my tables hence making many girls flock to my tables. That makes me know many girls and that’s it.' He asserted that he helped women secure accommodation and that they followed him to parties because of his contacts. Investigators, however, described a network that allegedly exploited debt and coercion to push women into sex work for high-paying clients.

Runako Celina, BBC reporter and producer, said Monic’s story was reduced to a meme online, but she described a young woman with dreams of a better life and a family that loved her. Over the course of two years, Celina traveled between Uganda, Dubai and the UK to piece together what happened, meeting women who faced fear butbravely shared their experiences of sexual exploitation. The reporting cautions that misinformation, inequality and exploitation can feed into each other and calls for restoring dignity to those who can no longer speak for themselves.

'Death in Dubai: #DubaiPortaPotty' is available on BBC iPlayer from Monday, September 15. If viewers feel distressed by references in this programme, health professionals or organizations such as Befrienders Worldwide can provide support. UK viewers can find information about organizations offering support after sexual abuse or with feelings of despair at BBC Action Line.

The investigation highlights how factors such as youth unemployment and limited opportunities in origin countries can drive some Ugandans to seek work abroad, often in Gulf states. While many workers move through safe channels, anti-trafficking activists say others are drawn into prostitution after being promised legitimate employment. In this case, authorities have not disclosed charges, but the presence of a red notice indicates an extradition process that could bring further information to light as Dubai authorities continue to investigate the allegations and determine appropriate actions.

The case underscores ongoing concerns about trafficking and coercive sex work that cross international borders, linking criminal networks in Africa with clients and venues in the Gulf. As Dubai authorities handle the proceedings, investigators and advocates emphasize the need for greater protections for migrant workers, clearer pathways to legitimate work, and robust enforcement against those who exploit vulnerability for profit.